Warriors’ Ian Duval named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week

CALGARY, AB. – The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Ian Duval of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Duval picked up seven points, scoring five goals and two assists to go with a +2 rating, in three games over the past week, helping the Warriors post a 3-0-0-0 road record in that span.

On Tuesday, December 9th, the Warriors hosted East Division rivals the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Civic Centre in Moose Jaw. Duval netted two goals as the Warriors downed the Wheat Kings 6-3. He was also named the games 2nd Star.

On Friday, December 12th, the Warriors started a short two game road trip through the WHL Central Division starting with the Hurricanes at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge. Duval scored a goal and an assist as the Warriors defeated the Hurricanes 4-3. He was also named the games 1st Star. The next evening, Saturday, December 13th, the Warriors were in Cranbrook to take on the Kootenay Ice. Duval had another big night picking up two goals, one short-handed, and an assist with the Warriors taking the game 7-4. He was named the games 2nd Star.

Duval, a 20-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is currently playing his fifth full season in the Western Hockey League. He was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft by the Regina Pats and has gone on to play a total of 295 games in the WHL scoring 162 points to date.The WHL has also nominated rookie Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Kuemper posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week with a shut-out, allowing just one goal on 50 shots for a 0.500 goals-against average and incredible .980 save percentage.

Kuemper, an 18 year-old from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is playing his first season in the Western Hockey League. He spent last year in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League appearing in 44 games with the Saskatoon Blazers compiling a 2.36 GAA. Kuemper currently sits in 9th spot among all WHL goaltenders with a 2.67 goals-against average.